Cigarette device



y 956 H. M. LEGLER 2,746,890

CIGARETTE DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1950 30 HILL/METERS a0 M M.

X COVERED fiREfi INVENTOR Henr M. lgier BY United States atent CIGARETTE DEVICE Henry M. Legler, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Larus & Brother Company, Inc., Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application September 14, 1950, Serial No. 184,778

3 Claims. (Cl. 1314) This invention relates to an improvement in cigarettes and has particular reference to the provision of a cigarette which, by reason of its structure and content, will serve to minimize the harmful effects caused by the smoking of tobacco. It is recognized that the smoking of tobacco is in some respects harmful to the human system. A substantial portion of this harm is caused by the contact of the membranes of the mouth, the nasal passages, and the lungs, with certain tars and alkaloids, or decomposition products of alkaloids, which are contained in the cigarette smoke.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a cigarette which is so constructed as to assist the smoker to minimize harmful effects. To this end the present invention modifies the conventional cigarette structure, the modification consisting in incorporating in the structure of the cigarette at a predetermined point a flammable, non-toxic substance which upon contact with the tire of the cigarette produces a smoke element which so changes the composition of the smoke as to warn the smoker through sense of taste or through sense of smell, that a point has been reached where the smoke from the further combustion of the cigarette will be increasingly harmful.

The attached drawings are merely illustrative of the two ways in which the structure of the cigarette may be most conveniently changed or modified.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there are illustrated, in two different forms, cigarettes incorporating as a part of the filler of the cigarette a flammable, non-toxic substance.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there are illustrated two different forms of cigarettes in which the flammable, non-toxic substance has been added as an outer coating or covering of the conventional cigarette wrapper.

During combustion of a cigarette structure the smoke resulting therefrom carries alkaloids, such as nicotine, or combustion products thereof, and resinous compounds or tars. These resins or tars are of two general types, those of low boiling point, which are relatively volatile and which usually comprise not more than about 5% of the total solids of the smoke, and those of relatively high boiling point, which compose a substantial portion of the total solids in the smoke. All such resinous compounds, and the alkaloids, appear as solids in the smoke and, as the smoke is filtered through the length of the cigarette, these solids are entrapped, the result being an accumulation of a substantial portion of these solids in the butt or exit end of the cigarette. Thus, as smoking of the cigarette proceeds, there is trapped in the tobacco in that portion of the cigarette closest the mouth of the smoker a substantial amount of tar, alkaloids and similar solids. In consequence, as the fire of the cigarette progresses toward the smokers mouth, the solids in the smoke increase. This increase, however, is not of a substantial order until the fire of the cigarette has reached a point which may be defined as being about 30 millimeters from the smoke exit end of the cigarette. At that point the amount of tar present in the smoke, which carries over into the smokers mouth, is substantially increased. This effect is heightened by the fact that the temperature of the smoke rises rather abruptly when the burning portion of the cigarette approaches about 30 to 35 millimeters from the exit end of the cigarette, and this in turn increases the amount of the high boiling point tars which pass into the smokers mouth. Usually the smoke temperature at the beginning of the combustion of the cigarette is in the neighborhood of F. and so remains until the cigarette is consumed to a point which is roughly about 30 to 35 millimeters from the respiratory or smoke exit end, at which point the temperature abruptly rises, often reaching within the next few millimeters of combustion a temperature of or more Fahrenheit. This phenomenon is true regardless of cigarette length. Thus, whether the cigarette be the conventional length of about 70 millimeters, or the longer and more recently conventional length of 84 to 86 millimeters, the smoke temperature rises at the point indicated. Changes in diameter or in tobacco density will displace the exact point of rise, but not sufiiciently to negate the general statement that the combustion of that length of the cigarette which measures 30 to 35 mm. from the smoke exit end will cause a sharp rise in the tar or resin content of the smoke.

The present invention provides in the cigarette structure intermediate the ends thereof, but not less than 30 millimeters from the smoke exit end, a flammable nontoxic substance which, upon combustion, produces an element in the cigarette smoke which changes either the taste or the odor, or both, of that smoke, thus serving as a telltale or signal to the smoker and indicating that further smoking will have increasingly harmful effects. Whether the smoke element producing substance incorporated in the cigarette structure be one which makes the smoke offensive to the human sense of taste or smell, or one which merely changes the smoke without offense to the senses of the average smoker, is a matter of choice, the desired condition being that the smoke definitely be changed in either taste or odor, or both, to the end that a signal is conveyed through one or the other of these senses.

It is a distinct advantage of cigarette structure made in accordance with this invention that the signal is imparted through non-visual means, thus requiring no visual attention on the part of the smoker and insuring that the smoker is warned regardless of light conditions, preoccupation of the smoker or other conditions which normally will interfere with visual signals. While the substance selected may be one which, upon combustion, will produce a smoke element changing either taste or odor, or both, of the cigarette smoke, substances which have effect upon the taste of the smoke are preferred since, as is well known, the smokers sense of smell may be interfered with by inflamed membranes or other causes and, likewise, the atmosphere may contain odors tending to obscure the desired signal effect when the sense of smell is alone relied upon. For average conditions, however, the use of a substance which changes both odor and taste of the smoke will be practical.

The substance may be incorporated in the cigarette structure in several Ways, any of which are a matter of choice depending upon the cigarette making machinery available and the type of cigarette desired. in general, where no outer covering is desired on the cigarette wrapper, either the wrapper or the tobacco fiiler, or both, may be impregnated or filled with the smoke element producing substance. The area thus filled or n'egnatetl should be of at least sufiicient length, measurec along the length of the cigarette structure, to allow combustion to proceed along it for a brief time, so that the resulting signal will have a definite time length. Such a structure is illustrated in Fig. l, where the impregnated area (designated as such) is illustrated as extending over about 5- millimeters of the length of the cigarette. The preferred form of such a structure is, however, shown in Fig. 2. Here the impregnated or filled area extends from the smoke exit end of the cigarette along the cigarette length to a point 30 millimeters from the end, thus providing a prolonged and insistent signal to the smoker. While in Figs. 1 and 2 the areas in question have been described as filled or impregnated, it will be apparent that the area may be formed by mere mixture of the tobacco with a solid smoke element producing substance of the type desired.

In the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the substance used to produce the desired smoke element will usually be invisible to the smoker, and thus it becomes necessary to place upon the wrapper of the cigarette some indicator as to the end thereof which shall be placed in the smokers mouth. Normally a visual indication, such as the arrow shown on the opposite end of the cigarette wrapper in Figs. 1 and 2, will be sufiicient for this purpose. Of course, if the smoke element producing substance is a part of the wrapper and changes the color thereof, a supplementary visual indication, such as the arrow, may not be necessary.

Where it is possible or desirable, from the standpoint of smoker acceptance, to place a cover or coating over the cigarette wrapper at a point 30 to 35 millimeters from the smoke exit end of the cigarette, then the desired smoke element producing substances may be incorporated in, or may form, such cover or coating. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a covered area of sufiicient length to produce a signal over a definite interval of time may be provided preferably beginning, as shown, about 30 millimeters from the smoke exit end of the cigarette. If desired, this cover may extend from this point to the smoke exit end to form the covered area illustrated in Fig. 4. In the structure shown in Fig. 3 it may be desirable to provide an indication to the smoker as to the end which is to be inserted in the mouth. Thus, in Fig. 3 the cigarette wrapper bears an arrow which serves as such a signal. In Fig. 4, however, the covered area serves as the signal, since it will convey to the smoker the same indication as is now conveyed by the conventional tip or mouthpiece provided as a part of some cigarette structures.

Many flammable non-toxic substances are available which, upon combustion, will produce a smoke element of the required kind. Notable among these is cystine, a sulphur containing amino acid found in proteins. The availability of this substance, or substances containing substantial quantities thereof, together with its known lack of toxicity, particularly recommends it for use. Other substances which are not readily steam distilled at the smoking temperatures, such as menthol, thyrnol, quinine, tallow, cork, rubber and the like, may be readily utilized. Moreover the concentration of the glycerine or glycols now used in cigarette tobacco mixture to condition the tobacco may be increased substantially in the tobacco lying in the end of the cigarette, thus providing an increase in the smoke elements produced by the com bustion thereof and causing definite change in smoke taste. Solid poly-glycerols may likewise be used as the smoke element producing substance, as may any substance which is flammable, non-toxic and productive, upon combustion, of a smoke element which changes the taste or odor of the cigarette smoke of which it becomes a part. Herein and in the appended claims the term non-toxic is used in its relative rather than its absolute sense. Many substances are, in sufficient quantity and under given circumstances, toxic to the human system in the absolute sense, but nonetheless tolerated by the system in small amounts when accepted therein through the respiratory tract. Thus, for example, the alkaloid nicotine, a component of tobacco, is toxic in the absolute sense but is nonetheless non-toxic in the sense that it is acceptable by the human system as a portion of the cigarette smoke. A

4 further analogy is ethyl alcohol. It is in this relative sense that the term non-toxic is herein used.

It is an important aspect of this invention that the cigarette structure has the smoke element producing substance incorporated therein at a point not less than about 30 millimeters from the smoke exit end of the structure. In cigarette structures having tobacco extending through more than 70 millimeters of its length it is usually desirable, although not necessary, to incorporate such substances at a point not less than about 35. millimeters from the smokeexit end of the cigarettes, although most of the benefits of the invention will be realized if the point of 30 millimeters is used as the minimum. In view of the foregoing description, it is at once apparent that the smoke element producing substance could be incorporated at greater distance from the smoke exit end of the cigarette and the benefits of the invention utilized. However, the economical factors are such as to make impractical for ordinary purposes cigarette structures having said substance incorporated at a point which is separated from the smoke exit end by more than about 60 per cent of the length of the cigarette, and I prefer, for usual purposes, to incorporate the smoke element producing substance over an area of the cigarette which terminates at a point between about 30 and about 40 millimeters from the smoke exit end of the structure. These figures, of course, contemplate that the tobacco filling extends throughout the cigarette structure. Where, as is the case in some cigarette structures, the structure is provided at its smoke exit end with an extension not filled with tobacco, this extension is to be disregarded. The efiective end for the purpose of this invention is the point at which the tobacco filling terminates.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a cigarette structure comprising a wrapper, a tobacco filler therefor and means indicating to the user the end to be inserted in the mouth, a flammable nontoxic substance incorporated in such structure over a length thereof for contact with the fire of the cigarette at a point intermediate the ends, of the structure but not less than about 30 millimeters from the termination of the tobacco filler at said indicated end, said substance producing, on combustion, a smoke element perceptibly difierent to at least one of the human senses of smell and taste from the smoke produced by the combustion of the cigarette structure at-points prior to said contact.

2. In a cigarette structure comprising a wrapper, a tobacco filler therefor and means indicating to the user the end to be inserted in the mouth, a flammable nontoxic substance incorporated in such structure over a length thereof for contact with the fire of the cigarette at a point intermediate the ends of the structure but not less than about 30 millimeters nor more than about 40 millimeters from the termination of the tobacco filler at said indicated end, said substance producing, on combustion, a smoke element perceptibly different to at least one of the human senses of smell and taste from the smoke produced by the combustion of the cigarette structure at points prior to said contact.

3. In a cigarette structure comprising a wrapper, a tobacco filler therefor and means indicating to the user the end to be inserted in the mouth, a flammable nontoxic substance incorporated in such structure over a length thereof for contact with the fire of the cigarette at a point intermediate the ends of the structure but not less than 30 millimeters, nor more than a length equaling 60 per cent of the length of the tobacco filled wrapper, from the termination of the tobacco filler at said indicated end, said substance producing, on combustion, a smoke element perceptibly different to at least one of the human senses of smell and taste from the smoke produced by the combustion of the cigarette structure at points prior to said contact.

(References on following page) 5 References Cited in the file of this patent 1,967,556 John July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,217,527 Room 1940 1,749,582 Hopkins Mar. 4, 1930 OTHER REFERENCES 1,902,775 Herrmann Mar. 21, 1933 5 Consumers Union Report, July 1938, pages 5 t0 8. 

1. IN A CIGARETTE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A WRAPPER, A TOBACCO FILLER THEREOF AND MEANS INDICATING TO THE USER THE END TO BE INSERTED IN THE MOUTH, A FLAMMABLE NONTOXIC SUBSTANCE INCORPORATED IN SUCH STRUCTURE OVER A LENGTH THEREOF FOR CONTACT WITH THE FIRE OF THE CIGARETT AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE TERMINATION OF THE THAN ABOUT 30 MILLIMETERS FROM THE TERMINATION OF THE TOBACCO FILLER AT SAID INDICATED END, SAID SUBSTANCE PRODUCING, ON COMBUSTION, A SMOKE ELEMENT PERCEPTIBLY DIFFERENT TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE HUMAN SENSES OF SMELL AND TASTE FROM THE SMOKE PRODUCED BY THE COMBUSTION OF THE CIGARETTE STRUCTURE AT POINTS PRIOR TO SAID CONTACT. 